CS/HB 1047 Summary

• Defines "reasonable medical judgment," "standard medical measure," and "viability" (fetal life sustainable outside womb through standard medical measures) in Florida abortion law.

• Prohibits termination of viable fetuses except when two physicians certify termination is necessary to save the pregnant woman's life or avert serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function, or in medical emergencies when another physician is unavailable.

• Requires physicians to perform medical examinations and reasonably available tests to determine fetal viability before performing any termination, and to document findings in the medical record.

• Mandates that physicians performing terminations during viability exercise the same degree of professional skill and care to preserve fetal life and health as would be used for a fetus intended to be born, except that preserving the pregnant woman's life and health takes priority if the two conflict.

• Prohibits abortion of viable fetuses outside hospitals; violations constitute third-degree felony for willful violations or second-degree felony if resulting in woman's death; constitutes grounds for professional license discipline.

• Effective date: July 1, 2014, with contingent repeal and reversion to January 1, 2014 law if section 390.01112 is ruled unconstitutional.